Bullpen Report: June 18, 2013
A slightly abbreviated report this evening:
• Chris Perez pitched for the AA Akron Aeros today on a rehab assignment and the results weren’t pretty. As far as rehab assignments go, having no set backs on your recovery is all that really matters, but Chris Perez allowed 5 runs on 5 hits, 3 HRs, 1 double and hit a batter just for show as well. On the bright side, he did get two strikeouts! In all seriousness, I wouldn’t put too much weight on this rehab performance as the important part is that he’s recovering from injury and should return to Cleveland soon, but those waiting to cut ties with Vinnie Pestano might want to hold a tad longer. Additionally, jokes made about how Perez is showing he’s in mid-season form are pretty good.
• Speaking of Pestano, Perez’ replacement recorded his second save of the season tonight against the Royals. Pestano threw a scoreless ninth but it wasn’t smooth sailing as he allowed four batters to reach base in the inning. Pestano has not been that sharp this year (5.31 FIP) but Francona will keep handing him the ball in the ninth with Perez on the shelf, who as of this writing is still scheduled to return to the Indians on Friday.
• Bobby Parnell recorded a four-out save today against the Braves today in the first game of the double header for his 10th of the year. Parnell’s name hasn’t been involved in many trade rumors but it was announced that the Mets will not be shopping Parnell at the deadline. Parnell would be more attractive pitching for another team in 2013 but he’s been solid with a 2.09 FIP this year.
• Andrew Bailey was awarded his third win of the season tonight but it was at the expense of his third blown save. Bailey, who has mostly been good this season when he’s pitched is in a little bit of a funk at the moment with five earned runs allowed and two blown saves in his last three appearances. Since returning from the DL, Bailey has seen his velocity decline which makes you wonder if Bailey could still be hurting or if he will be pitching with slightly less velocity from here on out. Any way you slice it, although Bailey remains closer in Boston, Junichi Tazawa gets a little more attractive in fantasy leagues.
Closer Grid:
[Green light, yellow light, red light: the colors represent the volatility of the bullpen order.]
When he's not focusing on every team's bullpen situation, Ben can be found blogging at Ben's Baseball Bias and on Twitter @BensBias
Aaaand Ollie Perez makes an appearance in the 7th.
Wilhelmsen pitched the 8th tonight and Perez got the last save opportunity for the Mariners. I don’t know who the “closer” is, but I don’t think its Wilhelmsen.
MEDINA!
Drop Oliver Perez for him?
There’s a league in which Oliver Perez is owned?
Don’t get too full of yourself.
Not full of anything, I play in about as deep a league as you’ll find and he’s not owned in mine. I don’t think either Medina or Perez are ownable, but its tough to know who or if there’s a guy in Seattle at all. I think clearly Wedge wants Wilhelmsen to figure it out and step back in, who’s going to get saves up to that point might be comletely unpredictable.
If that changes and Medina or Perez actually DOES become the closer I would think you could still pick them up. 2 Weeks ago Perez had a 0% ownership rate in CBS, that’s up to 6% now, so I guess there are people (like yourself) picking him up, but as big a proponent of chasing saves midseason as I am, the odds of Perez getting a second one seem relatively low to me. The odds of Medina getting a second one may be even worse. This strikes me as only a little bit better than picking up Iwakuma last year because he got a save in May. That would obviously have paid off, but not if saves were what you were after. I realize in deep leagues you’ve got to speculate on the NEXT closer, but in this case you could easily get caught owning Oliver Perez and never get another save out of him. Same risk is present for Medina, just how far do you want to go to maybe pick up one save if you’re lucky?
I see. I just want to stock up on closers because I have a lot of closer “fill-ins”. Heath Bell,Rex Brothers, and Medina. Would you rather have K-rod than deal with the closer situation in Seattle?
Would you guys drop Heath Bell or Medina for Francisco Rodriguez? 10 team mixed roto.
I read that Milwaukee was planning on getting K-Rod to 300 saves, he’s currently at 298, so there are only 2 more saves to be had from K-Rod if that’s true, not sure how long Bell is going to hold onto the job. I can’t imagine Medina is seriously going to close, but you never know about such things. I think Wedge is going with whoever he feels like on a given night in Seattle right now. I’m not sure what Putz’ timeline to come back is, but you’ve got to think Bell’s going to lose that role once Putz returns. I’d hold onto Bell until Putz is back and maybe has locked down a save or two. If you’re really fishing for a couple of saves and can drop easily K-Rod should get you 2 more (though who knows how long that will take), and I just can’t imagine Medina is going to close, last time it was Oliver Perez, next time it might be Carter Capps or Danny Farquhar.
Can anyone who watched the most recent Valverde implosion today explain to me why he was allowed to stay in for so long? Guy absolutely killed my ERA and WHIP for the week as I’m facing my only true threat in my main league.. so disappointing but I should have seen this coming I guess